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Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) goes to the basket as San Antonio Spurs center/forward Luke Kornet defends during the first half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
April 29, 2026, 10:56 am
Avdija’s breakout NBA season ends as Trail Blazers knocked out of playoffs
Israeli basketball star scores 22 points as team loses to San Antonio Spurs
By ToI Staff and Agencies
Deni Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts after scoring and drawing a foul against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 14, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP)
April 15, 2026, 8:43 am
In first for an Israeli, Avdija leads Portland to NBA playoffs with 41 points
Lead changes several times throughout game with Phoenix; Trail Blazers to face San Antonio in first round of Western Conference playoffs
By DAVID BRANDT
Harrison Hochberg, the first Jewish member of the University of Michigan basketball team to win a National Championship. (Courtesy Hochberg via JTA)
April 12, 2026, 2:14 am
On the record and off the court: Meet the only Jewish player on the NCAA championship team
Harrison Hochberg reflects on being a member of Michigan’s winning squad, celebrating Passover during the Final Four, confronting antisemitism, and doing his well-known grandfather proud
By Adam Finkel
Former Phoenix Suns player Amare Stoudemire addresses the crowd during his Ring of Honor ceremony at halftime of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix, March 2, 2024. (AP/Darryl Webb)
April 1, 2026, 11:24 pm
Jewish ex-NBA star Amar’e Stoudemire set for Hall of Fame
An Israeli citizen and devout covert to Judaism after retirement, the 6-time NBA All-Star and Israeli league veteran reportedly to be inducted into the sport’s pantheon
By jacob gurvis
Left to right: Brooklyn Nets' Ben Saraf in action during an NBA basketball game on March 14, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke); Portland Trail Blazers' Deni Avdija competing against the Brooklyn Nets on March 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II); Brooklyn Nets' Danny Wolf competing against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
March 18, 2026, 1:12 am
In first, NBA game features 3 Israelis — Avdija, Wolf and Saraf
All-Star Deni Avidja says energy reminded him of Menora arena in Tel Aviv, after he and Ben Saraf hug and exchange jerseys, as Jewish basketball fans show up in force
By Gabe Friedman
Members of the Yeshiva University Maccabees huddle during their Sweet 16 game against Emory University, March 13, 2026, in Atlanta. (Screenshot from MacsLive video on X)
March 14, 2026, 4:26 am
Yeshiva knocked out in Sweet 16, as Zevi Samet scores 43 in his last game with Maccabees
YU coach predicts future success for team despite graduation of several top players, including Samet, who says highlight of his time at school was the ‘awesome friendships’ he made
By PHILISSA CRAMER
Kevin Durant of Team USA Stripes (R) shoots against Deni Avdija of Team World during the 75th NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome on February 15, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP)
February 16, 2026, 5:01 am
Deni Avdija makes history as first Israeli to play as NBA All-Star
Avdija scores 5 points and makes 4 assists during 15 minutes on basketball court, though his team of international stars loses both contests, missing out on round-robin championship
By ToI Staff and AFP
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) goes for a layup during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, January 18, 2026, in Sacramento, California. (AP/Justine Willard)
January 23, 2026, 9:15 am
NBA star Deni Avdija laments ‘all the hate’ for being Israeli amid on-court success
Israeli power forward is in running for All-Star game, is current odds-on favorite to win Most Improved Player award, as he enjoys breakout season with Portland Trail Blazers
By ToI Staff
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) is fouled by Sacramento Kings forward Precious Achiuwa (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, January 18, 2026, in Sacramento, California. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
January 20, 2026, 10:23 am
Avdija falls short of NBA All-Star starting lineup, still has hope to be a reserve
While fans rate Israeli hoopster in top 5, players and media rank him lower, putting him 7th overall; coaches will now select the 7 non-starters for Feb. 12 game
By ToI Staff
Real Madrid's Facundo Campazzo falls on the court during the Euroleague basketball match between Real Madrid Baloncesto and Panathinaikos Aktor Athens at Movistar Arena in Madrid on November 13, 2025. (Oscar DEL POZO / AFP)
January 5, 2026, 5:55 pm
Real Madrid to face Maccabi Tel Aviv in basketball match without fans, citing protests
Spanish team says game has been declared ‘high risk’ as hundreds of organizations call for anti-Israel rally outside Movistar Arena on Thursday
By AFP
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija, middle, drives to the basket against Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Oregon, December 29, 2025. (Howard Lao/AP)
December 30, 2025, 7:30 pm
Israel’s Deni Avdija 7th in NBA All-Star Game voting in West, continuing breakout season
24-year-old Portland Trail Blazers forward could become first-ever Israeli All-Star, on the heels of becoming Israel’s all-time leading NBA scorer earlier this month
By ToI Staff and Agencies
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (left) drives against Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Detroit, December 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
December 6, 2025, 1:48 pm
Deni Avdija now Israel’s all-time leading NBA scorer
Passing Omri Casspi for the record, the 24-year-old Portland forward has emerged as one of the best players in the world, and is on pace to be Israel’s first-ever NBA All Star
By Ethan Rubinson and ToI Staff
Anti-Israel protesters wave Palestinian flags and hoist a sign reading 'give Israel the red card' against Israeli participation in sporting events, outside a basketball game between Virtus Bologna and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Bologna, Italy, November 21, 2025. (Screen capture: Il Fatto Quotidiano)
November 22, 2025, 10:04 am
Italian anti-Israel activists clash with cops outside Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball game
Protesters chant ‘Zionists out of Bologna,’ hurl stones and flares, as police respond with smoke bombs and water blasts before restoring calm
By ToI Staff
Then-Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, right, and his son, assistant coach Steven Pearl, who is taking his place, call out to players during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP/Rogelio V. Solis)
November 6, 2025, 5:23 am
As college hoops returns, boosters say golden age of Jewish coaching just tipping off
Three of four coaches in last year’s Final Four were Jewish, but it was an up-and-comer from a D-III school who won Red Auerbach honors, and more are in the pipeline as well
By Ed Klajman
Berlin's David McCormack, left, and Tel Aviv's Jasiel Rivero challenge for the ball during the Basketball EuroLeague match between Alba Berlin and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Berlin, Germany, November 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
October 21, 2025, 3:16 pm
European basketball becomes 1st sports competition to return to Israel after ceasefire
Euroleague announces games will be held in Israel as of December 1, after being held in third-country venues throughout war; soccer federation expresses hope for similar return
By Reuters and ToI Staff
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